How you could become a victim of cybercrime in 2015
Cybersecurity experts' predictions for the year ahead: from ransomware and healthcare hacks to social media scams and state-sponsored cyberwar
Online security companies have been making their predictions for 2015, from the malware that will be trying to weasel its way onto our computers and smartphones to the prospect of cyberwar involving state-sponsored hackers.
The more we do and share online, the more vulnerable we may be to "targeted" attacks to steal our passwords and data. "It is possible that our willingness to share and shop online will let criminals become more selective about who they target," suggests Stephen Bonner of KPMG.
Meanwhile, you may see more spam emails in your inbox in 2015, as the technology used to send them becomes more sophisticated.
Healthcare is also expected to be a target. "Companies operating in the sector are a privileged target because of the wealth of personal data they manage, and that represents a precious commodity in the criminal underground," notes InfoSec Institute.
One of the most common forms of malware in 2014 was "ransomware", where cybercriminals trying to extort money from victims either by locking their devices and demanding a fee to release them, or by accusing them of various unpleasant crimes.
One of the big announcements for Apple in 2014 was the launch of its mobile payments service, Apple Pay. However, several security companies expect cybercriminals to make a concerted effort to crack it and rival services in 2015.
Some of the most high profile vulnerabilities in 2014, such as Shellshock and Heartbleed, provoked discussion about the security of open source code. Several security companies expect this debate to continue in 2015.
Technology like Tor is used for a variety of reasons, including activists anonymising their online activities when under pressure from authoritarian governments. However, this kind of technology will also be used by more cybercriminals in 2015.
As more of our devices talk to one another, via the "Internet of Things", there may be a range of new cybersecurity headaches to think about. WebSense thinks that in 2015, attacks on the Internet of Things will focus more on businesses than individuals with gadgets.
"Cyber warfare is very attractive to small nations. The development of a government-built malware is cheaper than any other conventional weapon and far more accessible to any nation-state. Cyber warfare represents for every government an efficient alternative to conventional weapons," notes InfoSec Institute.
The boundaries between cybercriminal gangs and governments may also blur. "Criminal groups will increasingly adopt nation-state tactics," predicts Kaspersky.
